The final -e of German drops: so many plurals are made only with the Umlaut, or do not change at all. The plural article is always d (Dativ de).
| singular | plural | Hochdeutsch |
|---|---|---|
| de Hund | d Hünd | die Hunde |
| de Tag | d Täg | die Tage |
| de Öpfel | d Öpfel | die Äpfel |
| s Chind | d Chind | die Kinder |
| s Huus | d Hüüser | die Häuser |
| d Frau | d Fraue | die Frauen |
| d Strass | d Strasse | die Strassen |
A few nouns do not have the same gender as in Germany: de Butter (die Butter), s Tram (die Tram), de Radio (das Radio), s Mail (die E-Mail).
The diminutive -li is everywhere. It makes things smaller, but above all friendlier (es Käfeli, es Momäntli). Three rules: the word always becomes neuter (s), the vowel often takes the Umlaut, and the plural is the same (d Hüüsli).
| noun | -li | Hochdeutsch |
|---|---|---|
| de Hund | s Hündli | das Hündchen |
| s Huus | s Hüüsli | das Häuschen |
| d Chatz | s Chätzli | das Kätzchen |
| s Brot | s Brötli | das Brötchen |
| de Gruess | s Grüessli | der kleine Gruss |
Some -li words have become words of their own: s Maitli (the girl), s Müesli, s Rüebli (the carrot), s Gipfeli (the croissant). « Liebi Grüessli » often ends a message.
Mir händ zwei Chind und drü Hünd.
We have two children and three dogs.
Chunsch no uf es Käfeli?
Are you coming for a quick coffee?
S Maitli spilt mit em Hündli.
The girl is playing with the little dog.
Translate the words from your reading, review them as flashcards and practise with gap-fill sentences.
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